www.iFourWinns.com

I don't know how to classify this. But I have an issue that's a bit of a mystery and wanted to see if its "normal" or not. I have a 1994 Horizon 190 with a 5.0L injected engine (OMC/Volvo SX joint years - so everything has OMC labels, but Volvo-Penta SX part numbers and identification tags on the engine/outboard). I got it in September last year, so its new to me.

Anyway, when I turn the key to start, nothing happens. Acts like a dead battery. But if I take the throttle/shifter and shift it back and forth a couple times (both engaged and unengaged), then back to neutral, then turn the key, it magically turns over right away. It acts as though there is some sort of switch that won't engage until I play with the shifter a couple times.

Its not a big deal, since it always start after I play with it - takes about 10 seconds. But that seems wrong to me. It does not seem to ever happen on the lake after its been running and I stop to fish or something. I cannot find reference to any switch mechanism in my manuals. As an aside, I also have an issue with the engine stalling when its cold and I put in reverse at the ramp. Once it warms up, its fine. This is a 94/joint Volvo deal, so I didn't think the old OMC cable recall thing applied to this generation. I get around this by starting it in the driveway and running it for 10 minutes before we leave for the lake with the muffs.

I won't take her out on the canal or Cape Cod Bay/Boston Harbor until I'm sure everything is good to go though.

I'll eventually take it in to get checked but the backlog at my shop in the spring is pretty long. But if that is normal, then I guess its normal. Anyone experience this? Or not? I have a brand new battery as the one that came with the boat was 10 years old and I opted to replace that this winter.

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1994 Horizon 190
5.0L V8
SX/Cobra

My last boat did the same thing until I "adjusted" the Neutral Safety Switch.

I do not know where that is on the Volvo's, so one of these other gent's will have the details shortly. Just to say, it wasn't a big deal to me either, but an easy fix.... and much more confidence when all is right.

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Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

There are two interrupt-switches on top of the cable-plate on the motor where the cable from the shifter and the cable going to the drive "Meet" one another. Should be a black cable,from the shifter, and a red-cable that goes to the drive. There you'll see two micro-switches. One falls into a little "V-notch" when in neutral, the other is on a little "hump" if the cable adjustments off and one of them does not hit the "V" or the hump, no start. Until you jog the shifter some.
This is assuming yours is the same as mine (93-190,5.0 OMC).

Take everything I say with a grain, I'm by no means an expert......but i'm getting there..........

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Jimbo
Na. Ga.

2000 170 Horizon LS
4.3GL

As noted above, that's most likely the neutral safety switch that keeps you from starting the engine in gear, which would be dangerous. You can also have an intermittent no start issue from an old rusty starter solenoid or assist solenoid, both of which I replaced last fall.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Another problem that I've had is a bad connection at the battery, either through a loose terminal or some corrosion on the connection. Cleaning the connection with steel wool and baking soda seemed to do the trick.

I've had this happen a couple of times and I'll usually take it back out on the lake to run it, but will always return to the launch bay to turn it off. I do this a few times to make sure all is good again.

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-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

And on the subject of battery connections, do yourself a favor and get rid of those wingnuts, either use locking nuts with nylon inserts or bolt an automotive batt clamp onto the cable terminal. I did the latter and I think it gives better surface area for the current to flow with lower resistance, which is what you want in a starter circuit.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Hi
Thanks!
I think that was the deal. There was some crud in and around where the two wires met. I cleaned off everything - didn't really do anything but clean it, and today, she started right up immediately. I tried it a couple times and seems to have solved the issue there. Honestly, there's crud built up in so many places.....the guy I bought it from had it moored at the dock at his house (ahh to live on a lake....)....it doesn't appear that she was used much recently - they had a 1 year old huge pontoon boat that seemed to have taken over duty.

I'll have to play hookey from work Friday and make sure that all is well.....in the name of responsible boat maintenance and all.

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1994 Horizon 190
5.0L V8
SX/Cobra

I have a 2000 Horizon 170 with a 90 Johnson. I too have these weird electrical issues where I have to turn the key serveral times before it will start but now it won't start at all. Is Before I go any further let em just say that I know next to nothing about fixing outboard motors but love my boat. Is there something similar to the "v" and "hump" mentioned in one of the replies thay I should be looking for on the motor where the cables meet? Or, is there something else I should be looking at first? Please let me know what I shoudl be trying. This is very frustrating and it is very difficult to get the boat off the lake to take it to a marina so if I can fix it myself that woudl make life easier for me. Thanks very much in advance.

Moses,

Your motor is very different than the ones discussed in this thread.

Your 90 HP Johnson outboard would have a nuetral safety switch, however, the configuration would be very different. Above they are discussing V8s that are mounted in the boats attached to outdrives/sterndrives. Diagnosing the problem will be similar, however, fixing it will likely be very different.

Go ahead and start your thread and ask your questions in there. Also, provide as much detail as you can about any noises or lights that come on or used to come on or changes that have been made.

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Current Operational Boats:
'04-Four Winns 180 Freedom 150 HP Evinrude
'72-Chris Craft Commander 31 Sedan Twin-350Qs